Reversible ratchet-wrench.



J. H. CASPER.

REVER S|BLE RATCHET WRENCH. APPLICATION FILED MAYIQ. x915.

LQMAQS, Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' JH, m. 8

- 1. H.- CASPER.

REVERSIBLE moan WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, I915. Y 1 1,423 Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:rosnrnn. CASPER, or GRE'ELEY, KANSAS.

REVERSIBLE BATCHET-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed may 19, 1915. Serial No. 29,121.

' This invention relates to new-and useful improvements in reversible ratchet wrenches,

and has for its principal objectfto provide a wrench which is particularly adapted for use-in removing gate valve seats.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which may be readily reversed so as to easily and quickly remove or replace the gate valve seats.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel reversing means for the wrench.

Still another object of the invention is to' provide a-novel means for holding the wrench in either ofits positions so that it may be used aseithera right or left hand wrench. v

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal secof Fig. 1, Fig. 3 lSl'ft longitudinal sectional view on line 3-301 Fig. 2, Fig. 4: is an end elevation of the main body of the wrench showing the latch and holding means therefor removed, Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a fragment of a wrench, showing a modified form there of, Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through Fig. 5, and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the jaw member used in connection with the modified form of wrench.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates as .an entirety the main body portion of a wrench comprising the shank 2 which is formed with the enlargement 3. A central longitudinal aperture 4 extends through the shank and the enlargement and communn. cates with the chamber 5 which extends transversely into the enlargement 3, being circular in plan and concentric therewith. A reduced opening (3, connects the chamber with the countersink 7 in which the head of the retaining screw seats when the same is in place.

The handle of the wrench is designated generally by the numeral 8 and comprises the cylindrical body 9 having formed therein the longitudinally extending central opcn ing 10 which communicates with the opening l hereinbetore referred to. The open ing 4: is provided with internal screw threads 11 at the upper end of the shank, and cooperating with these screw threads is the reduced screw threaded extension 12., which extension forms a connection between the handle 8 and the shank 2. The end of the opening 10 opposite the inner end terminates in the depression 13 as clearly shown in. Figs. 2 and 3. A pair or diametrically I opposite recesses 1a are formed axially in the depressed end 13 of the cylindrical body 9 as clearly shown. in Figs. 3 and 4.

Extending longitudinally through the opening 10 is the stem 15 which is formed at its inner end with the enlargement 16, which in turn is formed with an aperture 16 for the reception of the pin 18 which extends through a slot 17 in the ear 19 formed on the pawl 20. The end of the enlargement 16 opposite the one which-joins the stem 15. is bifurcated to receive the ear as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The pawl 20 is provided with the offset extension 21 provided withthe cam face 22, the use of which will appear as the description proceeds. Secured to the end 0t the stem 15 opposite the enlargement 16 is the spherical knob 21 which is formed with the opening 22 for the reception of the stem, and extending through the'knob and through the stem is a pin 23 by means of which theknob is held in place. A suitable Pin 24 is thread ed into the knob in such a position. as to ex Patented Jan. so, rear tend into either of the apertures 14 as clearly Shown in Fig. 3.

l-lotatably mounted in the chamber 5 of the enlargement 3 18 a suitable cylln'drical body 25 which is formed with a plurality of "outwardly extending peripheral teeth 26 at ceived in the countersink 7, and it will thus.

with the diametrically opposite, peripheral notches 28, the walls-of which are arranged to engage the gate valve seat in order to remove the same.

the reception of the cylindrical portionI-lt) of the set-screw, designated generally by the numeral 31, which is provided with the re? duced screw threaded extension 32. which is threaded into the reduced. internally screw threaded opening 33 in the enlarged disk '27 hereinbetore referred to. A suitable enlarged, cylindrical portion 34 is formed at the end of the cylindrical portion 30 and is received in the opening (3 hereinlietore mentioned. The head 35 of the screw is rebe seen that the face of the wrench through which the screw extends. remains relatively smooth. I p

vA suitable coil' spring 36 surrounds the enlargement 16 and abuts the end of the reduced cylindrical" portion 2 at one end and the shoulder, formed where the ear .19 joins the pawl 20, at the opposite end. It will thus be. seen that the pawl will be forced downwardly so that the pin 18 engages the lower wall of the slot 17 and the member 21 engages the teeth 26 of the wheel '25.

"It will be apparent from the foregoing that in use the spring 36 forces the pawl into' engagement with the wheel 26, and when in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be evident that the pawl will turn the wheel 25 clockwise. Upon pulling upwardly on the knob 21, itwill be evident that the pin 24 will be withdrawn from engagement with the upper opening lat and the whole may be reversed so that pin 24: will engage the lower opening 14, thus reversing the position of the pawl 20 so that upon oscillating the handle. the wheel 25 will he turned counter-clockwise. In the operation or this device it will beevident that the spirng 3h performs a two-fold function. the first being the retaining of the pawl 2'0 in cngagenu-ut. with the ratchet wheel 23. and the second function being the holding oi, the pin '3 lin engagement with the walls of either of the openings 14:. It will thus be seenthat the necessity of using a separate spring for holding the device in either of its adjusted positions is eliminated. and the same spring which is used to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel. is used in holding the pawl in its adjusted position. It is further to be understood that ii so desired. any suitable type of jaw may be substituted in place of the disk 27 by removing the screw 31 and placing a new jaw in position within the device.

In the modified form of wrench illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. the wrench body is formed identical with the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive but I A central opening 29 is. .formed in the body 25 and is arranged for in place of thewheel 25, there is substituied a ring 37 having formed in one end a pluralityot screw threaded openings for the reception of the screws "lheso screws extend through openings formed in the llauge 7g 39, which fiangeis provided with the enlarged openings 41). the inner \\'Zlll of which coincide with the inner wall of the ring 37. Formed integral with the ring 37 at the end opposite the flange 39 is a suitable flange 7 or enlarged portion a l provided at diametrically opposite points with the recesses 42. The outer face of this enlarged portion is formed with screw threaded openings for identical with the construction shown in the preferred form as clearly shown in Figs. :2 and 7. J

The auxiliary jaw member best illustrated in Fig. 8 is designated generally by the numeral ii and comprises the body 4:5,which is provided near. each end with a pair of 9. openings iG-and formedat each'end of, this body, is the upstanding portion 4:7 provided with the based extensions i8. These based extensions 4:8 form jaw members which engage the article to be turned. It 10;: is tobe understoodthat a number of the jaw members at may be provided which vary in sizes so as to fit the larger as well as the smaller valves and by interchanging the jaw membersit will beclearly seen that to? the device may be'universally used.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the ring 37 may be rotated in the enlargement ina manner similar to the wheelfii and will also beheld against rotation in one direction by means ol'the pawl 21). The ja w members 1 1 may be easily and quickly placed' in position and removed on the enlargements 4C1, by merely the removal and replacing of the cap screws 43.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodi- .ment of this invention, it is tobe understood that such changes may be made in ihe combination and arrangement of parts 120 in said handle, and means to lock said stem 133 against rotation, said pawl being slidably connected tosaid stem, whereby said pawl can move independently of said stem when engaged by said ratchet teeth on said ratchet wheel.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising a body, a handle on the body, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in the body, a pawl eX- tending longitudinally through and slidably mounted in the handle and engaging the ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel, an operating stem--slidably mounted in said handle, means to lock said stemagainst rotation, said pawl being slidably connected to said stem, whereby said pawl can move independently of said stem when engaged by vthe teeth on said ratchet wheel, and spring means normally holding said pawl in engagement with said ratchet wheel and said stem in locked position.

3. A ratchet wrench comprising a body, a shank on the body, said shank being provided with a longitudinal bore, the body having a circular chamber formed therein and extending transversely thereof, said chamber communicating with the bore, a handle threaded on the shank, an operating stem slidable through the handle, a

knob at the outer end of the stem on the exterior of the handle, a lug on the knob,- the stem being formed with a pair of diametrically opposite recesses for the reception of the lug, a pawl extending through the bore in the stem and into the chamber and slidably mounted therein, a cam face on the inner end of the pawl, a ratchet wheel roby said pawl is slidably connected to said stem, and a spring normally holding said pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel and the pin on said stem in engagement with the recesses in said handle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature -in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. CASPER.

Witnesses W. W. PARKER, J OHN T. RAMSEY. 

